Method of making shoe platforms



Snventor 2 E km Q q l 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Rw n CHRISTY EGG/E Megs April 20, 1943. c. REG-'GIE METHOD OF MAKING SHOE PLATFORMS Filed Aug. 5,

April 20, 1943.

C. REGGIE METHOD 0F MAKING SHOE PLATFORMS Filed Aug. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lweutor.' C HR/s rYREae/e Lttorneg Patented Apr. 20, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE METHOD F MAKING SHOE PLATFORMS Christy Reggie, Waynesville, N. Ct

Application August 5, 1942, Serial No. 453,666

6 Claims.

This invention relates to the art of footwear and more especially to a method of making an improved shoe platform.

It is an object of this invention to provide a shoe platform having a seamless and endless binder extending around the edge thereof to thereby produce a more attractive finish and also to eliminate such irregularities in the exposed surfaces of the platform as would be produced by a sea-m.

It is another object of this invention to provide a platform of the class described having a seamless and endless binder surrounding the platform edge and overlapping the top and bottom platform base surfaces, said binder being waterproofed by any suitable material such as rubber to thereby protect the platform base from damp ness. Shoes may be manufactured with wood, leather or felt platform bases. I f desired, the back part of the platform base, toward the heel', may be made of wood and the fore part, from the ball to the toe, may be made of felt or similar material. Unless the edge of the platform base is properly protected by a waterproof material the entire bottom will sometimes become soaked and will not only cause the wearer considerable discomfort, but the platform will sometimes disintegrate.

Itis another object of this invention to provide an improved method of encasing the edge of a shoe platform base with an endless and seamless binder. Brieiiy this improved method comprises cutting a blank of suitable shape from a planar piece of flexible material, forming this blank into a tubular binder having substantially the same inner perimeter as the outer perimeter of the platform base, inserting the tubular binder over the edges of the base, inwardly folding the upper and lower edges of the inserted binder in overlapping relation against the upper and lower surfaces of the platform base, and finally securing these over-lapping edges in position.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing my improved apparatus for converting a planar sheet of flexible material into a tubular member to thereby produce a binder for a shoe platform base;

Figure 2 is an elevation of Figure 1, showing certain portions thereof in section;

Figure 3 is a plan View of a planar piece of flexible material used for shoe platform binders prior to said material being converted into a tubular member by the apparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of the piece of material shown in Figure 3 after the same has been converted into a tubular member by the apparatus shown in Figures I and 2;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of one type of shoe platform upon which the tubular binder member shown in Figure- 4 is adapted to encircle;v

Figure 6 is an isometric view of a shoe'platform base after the binder as shown in Figure 4 has been placed around its edges, and' after the upper and lower projecting portions of the binder have been folded inwardly to overlapped positions relative to the top and bottom surfaces of the platform base; l

Figure 7 is a side elevation of the shoe platform, showing in bold lines an insole member and a bottom sole member, and showing in dotted lines the outline of the top cf the shoe;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 8-8 in Figure 7;

Figure 9 isa plan view of another type.- of flexible planar material such as a fabric,l after the same has' been cut, and prior tothe same being converted into. a tubular binder fabric to cover the edges of a shoe platformy base-:

Figure 10 is an isometric view,l illustrating the material shown in Figure 9 after it has been con-- verted into a tubular fabric; e

Figure 11 is. anisometric view of a slightly modified form of shoe platform base, after the tubular member shown in Figurev 10 has been placed around the edges, and. after the projecting upper and lower portions of the tubular' member haver been folded inwardly against the upper and lower surfacesy of the base;

Figure 12| is a transverse sectional View taken along the lines l-2-I2 in Figure 1l;

Figure 13 is a side elevation showing another modified form of shoe platforml made in accordance with the present inventiom said platform having an insole member and the bottom sole member attached to theupper and lower-surfaces thereof;

Figure 14. is a transverse sectional View taken along the line Ill-I4 in Figure I3; Y

vFigure 15` is an exploded. isometric view of the three essential parts `of the shoe platform' shown in Figure 13.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the numeral l0 denotes a table upon which is secured a bracketv member [t by any suitable means such as bolts or screws F21 This bracket niember'is` adapted to support a vpost I4, which post has substantially the same shape, in plan, as the toe portion of a shoe platform.

Post I4 is secured to the bracket I I by any suitable means such as screws I5 and this post extends upwardly from the bracket and above the top o-f the table. Another post I6 is provided which is substantially the same shape, in plan, as the heel portion of a shoe platform. This post is disposed alongside the post I4 and is adapted to be moved back and forth relative to post I4 when it is desired to stretch a flat piece of binder material to the desired size, and also when it is desired to transform the material into a tubular member. j

y gradually move away from the post I4 and as the Likewise, the post I6 is secured to a bracket I1 u by any suitable means such as screws I8. i

As heretofore stated, the post I6 moves back and forth relative to post I4. The direction o f this movement is controlled by a rod I9, whichV rod is xedly secured as at in downwardly, depending spaced lugs 2|, said lugs being an integral part of bracket I1. It can be seen in Figure 2 that the lugs penetrate a slot 22 in the table member I9, therefore as the post I6 and associated bracket I1 move back and forth, the lugs 2| will likewise slide back and forth in slot 22. The rod' I9 is also slidably mounted in spaced lugs 24 and 25 which depend from the bracket II previously described. Since the stationary lugs 24 and 25 slidably conne rod I9, and since the slidable lugs 2| are attached to this-rod and confined in slot 22 the movement of post I6 will always be in a straight line.

It is highly desirable that positive means be provided for moving the post I6 back and forth relative to post I4. To accomplish this result, a

rod 26 is provided, which rod is rotatably mounted in lugs -2I. 26a which-is threadably secured in stationary lug 25 of bracket II. As a means for preventing longitudinal movement of rod 26within the lugs 2| suitable collars 28 are provided around the rod, saidv collars being disposed adjacent the proximate faces of lugs 2 I. Also a suitable hand wheel 29 is provided on the extreme right-hand end of the rod 26 so that the rod may be turned to cause bracket I1 and its associated post I6 to be moved back and forth relative to stationary post I4, to accomplish a forming operation of a platform binder.

It is also desirable that a suitable gauge be provided to limit the outward movement of post `I6 away from stationary po'st I4 because it often happens that it is necessary to stretch one piece of material a greater amount than another. For example, it may be necessary to stretch one piece of material for a number seven shoe `base and another Vpiece of material for a number six shoe base. This gauge or stop mechanism comprises a block 30 which is slidably confined in slot 22 of table memberrlil. Block 30 has a pointer 3| which slides alongside a series of graduations 32 on the topof table member I9.

As a means for varying the position of the mem-V bers 3D and 3I, in the slot 22, one end of a bolt 33 has been rotatably mounted in the block V3|).

Y The intermediate portion of the bolt 33 is threadably secured in the table member I0 as at 23 and in order to provide means for turning the bolt 33, a knurled nut 35 is provided on the projecting end of this bolt. Y.

In actual operation the point 3l is set in the desired position before using the machine. Then, a planar or flat blank of flexible material 31 such as fabric or leather is cut in a suitable shape such as shown in Figure 3, said blank of material distance between the posts increases the planar blank 31 is gradually stretched and transformed into an endless, seamless tubular member.

The-rod 26 has a portion The treatment of the blank 31 with a suitable penetrant such as water or alcohol often plays an important part in a satisfactory transforming process.

It is also important thatthose portions of the blank 31 whichk rest against the sharp curved surfaces of posts I4 and I6, be brushed down.- wardly with a heated implement while the material is being stretched, so that practically all of the wrinkles will be eliminated.

The size of the tubular member when removed from posts I4 and I6 should be substantially the same in perimeter as the perimeter of the shoe platform base itself, said base being shown in Figure 5 and designated by the reference character 42.

When the member 31 has been properly stretched into a tube as shown in Figure 4, lit is then placed around a shoe platform base 42 (Figure 5) so that the line 39 wiilsubstantially coincidey with the upper edge of the platform and the line 40 will coincide with the lower edge. Then the upper and lower edge portions 31a and k311) respectively of the tubular member are folded inwardly against the upper and lower surfaces of the base 42, thereby producing an appearance such as shown in Figures 6 and 8. Of course, when the edgesv 31a and 31h 'are folded inwardly as shown and described it is desirable to secure the same to the base by any suitable means such as tacking, cementing, sewing, and the like.

After the binder has been properly attached to the perimeter of the'platform base 42, the shoe is then completedr in a conventional manner. Usually a bottom sole 44 is attached'up'on one face of the base and an insole 45 is attached to the other face, vas well as the conventon-al top or upper leather 46. Y

Figures 9 to 12 show a slightlyrmodified form of the invention, Vinvolving a slightly different construction. In this form a flat fabric blank 49 is provided, which blank is shaped sorthat when it is stretched and transformed withan apparatus suchfas shown'in Figures 1 'and `2,

the finished tubular member will fit around the perimeter of a shoe platform base asshown in Figure l1. This blank has openings 50 Vand 5I in the central portion thereof, these openings Vare connected by a slitv 52. Also 'blank 49V may/be provided wahrend lines 53 andsa which destaV nate the position of the upper and lower edges of the shoe platform `base when it iis applied thereto as a binder. Inlthi's form of the invention, a-fabric is employed and the same is impregnated with a suitable waterproof material such as rubber or the like. l f

, As in the preceding case, the blank 49 is placed around the posts I4 and I6 (Figures land `2,i'7,22 Y2') and then the apparatus is vmanipulated to stretch and transform it into an endless seamless tubular member such as shown in Figure 10. Likewise in this transformation, it is necessary to brush or rub the end portions of the blank with a heated implement, such as a smoothing iron, while the same is being stretched so as to shrink the material and eliminate as many wrinkles in the end portions as possible.

When the blank has been converted into the tubular fabric of the proper size (Figure 10), it is inserted over a shoe platform base 55 in such a manner that the line 53 will coincide with the upper edge of the base and line 54 will coincide with the lower edge. Then the top and bottom projecting portions 49a and 4gb respectively, are turned inwardly into overlapping relation with the top and bottom surfaces of the platform base so that the finished platform will appear as shown in Figures 11 and 12.

It should .be noted that the platform 55 may be made of a suitable fibrous material and, in such a case, it is desirable that the edges thereof be protected from moisture, hence the idea of waterproofing the binder material 49. As stated in the objects of the invention, the platform may be made entirely of fibrous material or may be made partially of brous material and partially of wood or other materials. In any event, if a waterproofed binder is not employed, that platform is likely to absorb moisture.

Figures 13, 14, and 15 show still another modied form of shoe platform. This platform is made from three parts, namely, the upper portion 60, intermediate heel wedge 6I, and bottom portion 62. When the three are assembled as shown in Figure 13, a bottom sole 54 is usually placed upon the lower surface of member 62, and an insole 65 is placed upon the top portion 69. Of course, the insole is united to the upper portion of the shoe in a conventional manner.

The member i) comprises platform element 67 which has its maximum perimeter -around its upper edge, said perimeter gradually diminishing with the thickness of the element. In other words, the outer perimeter of the element 61 tapers downwardly and inwardly thereby providing an inwardly rounded edge or welt. This element is covered by a suitable endless and seamless binder 63, which binder is rst cut in the form of a planar blank, and then positioned upon a suitable forming machine such as shown in Figures 1 and 2. When the blank has been transformed into the proper shape, it is then inserted around the rounded edges of the element El, after which the upper and lower projecting edges 68a and 68h of binder member 68 are folded inwardly upon the upper and lower surfaces of element 6l in the manner shown in Figures 14 and 15.

When forming the blank for the element 67, it will be noted that it is not necessary to stretch the same as much as in the preceding cases on account of the rounded edges of the element 6l. In other words, when the binder member GS has been properly stretched it will more nearly resemble a hollow conical member in shape which is also endless and seamless.

Member 62 is constructed along the same principles as member G. The shape of the planar blank from which binder l0 isto be formed will vary slightly from the shape of binder 68, so as to conform to the element around which it fits. This member 62 comprises an element 'IU and a binder member l I said binder member being cut from a planar blank and then inserted around membersy such as I4 and It, after which it stretched the proper amount, so that will encircle the perimeter of element l0. Likewise this member 'i0 has its perimeter curved upwardly and inwardly thereby presenting its maximum perimeter around its lower edge and its minimum perimeter around its upper edge where portion 62 is secured to the bottom portions of members 60, and member El.

When the blank has been formed and inserted around the perimeter of member lo, the top and bottom and edges 70a and b respectively, are folded inwardly in overlapping relation to the upper and lower surfaces of the element 70 after which the edges are secured in position by any suitable means such as nailing, gluing, sewing, or the like.

The intermediate heel wedge 6| comprises an element 'l5 and a cover 1B. There is no particular novel process involved in covering this wedge 'l5 because it is not made from va continuous and seamless piece of material. It is necessary, however, to properly cover this wedge, so that when it is placed in position, the covering thereon will match with the binder coverings 68 and 'H on the upper and lower elements 6'! and 7U respectively. This wedge is employed to give added height to the heel of the shoe, as well as to present a distinctive ornamental appearance.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms are einployed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. That method of making a shoe platform, the steps of which comprise cutting a planar blank from a piece of stretchable material, forming said blank into a tubular member having substantially the same perimeter as the perimeter of the shoe platform base, and then securing said tubular member around the perimeter of the platform base.

2. That method of making a shoe platform, the steps of which comprise cutting a planar blank from a piece of stretchable material, providing an opening in said blank, forming said blank into a tubular member having substantially the same perimeter as the perimeter of the shoe platform base and then securing said tubular member around the perimeter of the platform base.

3. That method of making a shoe platform, the steps of which comprise forming an opening in a planar piece of flexible material, expanding said material adjacent said opening to thereby form a tubular member, and then securing said tubular member around the perimeter of the platform base.

4. That method of making a shoe platform, the steps of which comprise forming an opening in a hat piece of exible material, inserting a pair of relatively movable posts in said opening, moving said posts apart from each other to stretch said material, ironing that portion of the material which is contacted by the posts while the stretching action is being effected to thereby form a tubular member and then securing said tubular member around the perimeter of the platform base.

5. That method of making a shoe platform, the steps of which comprise forming an opening in,

4 Y aizzao a at piece of flexible material, inserting a pair of relatively movable posts in said opening, Amove ing said posts apart from each other to stretch said material, applying heat to that portion of the material which is contacted by the posts while the stretching action is being effected to thereby forrn a tubular member and then securing said tubular member around the perimeter'of the platform base.

6. That method of making a shoe platform, the steps of which comprise forming an opening in a nat piece of flexible material, moisteningsad material with a suitable penetrant such as water, alcohol and the like, inserting a pair of relatively movable posts in said opening, moving said posts apart from each other to stretchsaid material, ironing that portion of the material which is contacted by the posts While the stretching action is being eiected to thereby form a tubular member and then securing said tubular member 10 around the perimeter of the platform base.V

CHRISTY REGGIE. 

